Orange County has been hot on the craft cocktail trend for a few years now, but cocktail enthusiasts and bartenders had no place to find high quality bar tools, bitters, shrubs, glassware or cocktail books – until the opening of The Mixing Glass at The OC Mix at SOCO.
If you’re someone who appreciates handcrafted cocktails, you’ve probably heard her name. Gabrielle Dion, is the mastermind behind some of the most innovative and buzzed about cocktails in Orange County. Being a member of the trade, she opened The Mixing Glass to fill what she felt was a void in the supply chain. The Mixing Glass offers all the necessary tools to make craft cocktails at home or to the trade, as well as gorgeous vintage barware, current and vintage cocktail books and classes taught by leaders in the craft cocktail movement.
“After spending years searching high and low for barware and products, paying a premium, and not being able to taste and smell bitters before ordering, I knew there had to be another way to access what I needed,” said Gabrielle Dion, owner of The Mixing Glass. “After much research and finding the perfect location at The OC Mix at SOCO, I’m thrilled to offer other professional mixologists – and craft cocktail lovers of all kinds – a truly unique source to indulge their passion.”
Before opening The Mixing Glass, Gabrielle Dion, named OC Weekly’s Best Bartender in 2012, started her 10-year career in bartending at Pelican Hill Grill. She then took her talents to Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s in South Coast Plaza. Today, in addition to owning and operating The Mixing Glass, Dion is the bar manager at the acclaimed Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach and also serves on the board of OC’s Bartender Cabinet trade group. Gabrielle is known for creating creative cocktails, often using obscure ingredients. The Mixing Glass at The OC Mix will carry products that Gabrielle uses personally.
The product mix at The Mixing Glass includes cocktail wares and supplies, bar tools imported from Japan and London, hard-to-find bitters that shoppers can sample, vintage barware and glassware, books, and cocktail kits like the Moscow Mule Kit which includes everything from the traditional copper mug to the ginger beer. The Mixing Glass hosts regular classes ranging from how to make homemade ingredients for cocktails, as well as bar mechanics, and Mixology 101.
The most recent class was the highly anticipated American Whiskey 101 on May 22nd. The cost of the class was $60 and participants were led though a tasting of 3 whiskies and an education of the production methods and aging process by Mr. Chris Dion. He is a Certified Spirits Specialist and represents many of the best American whiskies on the market. Guests also had the chance to make 2 different cocktails using the spirits tasted and received 10% off purchases made that evening.
Classes are always a fun night and sell out fast, so “Like” the Mixing Glass page on Facebook to learn about upcoming events and classes.
3313 Hyland Avenue A6
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 975-9952
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